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- Don't Take The Colors Apart
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- Dmae Roberts
This piece is about cultural identity seen through the life of Playwright Velina Hasu Houston as she travels back to Junction City, Kansas to move her mom back with her to California. Early on, Houston's dad taught her to appreciate her African American, Native American and Japanese roots by scooping out a spoon of neapolitian ice cream and telling her "Don't Take The Colors Apart." Houston has written numerous plays but the one closest to her "Tea" is about her mother's story as a military bride in Kansas. First aired in 1994 as part of the "Legacies: Tales From America" series.
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Piece Description
This piece is about cultural identity seen through the life of Playwright Velina Hasu Houston as she travels back to Junction City, Kansas to move her mom back with her to California. Early on, Houston's dad taught her to appreciate her African American, Native American and Japanese roots by scooping out a spoon of neapolitian ice cream and telling her "Don't Take The Colors Apart." Houston has written numerous plays but the one closest to her "Tea" is about her mother's story as a military bride in Kansas. First aired in 1994 as part of the "Legacies: Tales From America" series.
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Review of Don't Take The Colors Apart
Many times, poetry and play readings don't work on radio--they require too much attention and aren't compatible with the way most contemporary listeners use radio. However, this piece is a perfect example one tactic to make spoken art incredibly poignant on the radio.
The documentary profiles the life of Venila Hasu Houston, whose ethnicity is African-America, Japanese, and Native American. What makes this documentary interesting is it explores the stories, complexities, and emotions behind her unique mixture of DNA. First, the documentary details her families history: how her parents met, their life in Junction City, Kansas, and the peculiarities of growing up with the product of such a unique cultural mix. Just this section alone justifies a listen. Then, as the story evolves and takes on additional depth and color, the story is partially told through readings of Houston's poetry and plays. These readings are woven with interview segments and narration. It sounds like a lot--but it works. It works well. Additionally, the documentary has a great sense of craft. It is meticulously recorded, edited, and produced. It is 26 minutes, but feels like it lasts about five. Wonderful work. |
Timing and Cues
The piece runs 26:09 with credits which can be edited out if read by on-air host.
Musical Works
Koto music by Raphael Grinage
Shakuhachi by Jackie Gabel
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Matt Kaufman
Posted on August 09, 2004 at 01:46 PM | Permalink
Review of Don't Take The Colors Apart
I listened to the audio piece without realizing that it was over 10 years old. Created in 1994, it sounds quite current, and is as affecting as ever.
The program describes the difficult but vibrant life of a biracial asian/african american woman, and the challenges her family and her Japanese mother faced living near Ft. Riley Kansas.
While its certainly quite interesting and engaging, it is rather downbeat, and I hate to say it, but it does seem to have that whole "Amy Tan Asian Women have troubled lives" aura, which I know is a gross oversimplification, but is also the only shorthand way to summarize it.
I would very much like to find out more about the subject of the piece - Velina Hasu Houston - and hope that she'll be the subject of another public radio piece.